Naturalization Records

How to Locate Naturalization Records in northwest Ohio

For the following years, naturalizations were handled by the following courts:

Beginning to 1856: Court of Common Pleas

• Declarations of Intention may be available, filed separately
• Naturalization Records are usually found in the Journal of the Court of Common Pleas
  • Records in this case simply list the names of those being naturalized and that they took the oath of citizenship

1856-1906: Probate Court

• Declarations of Intention are filed separately, either loose files or bound volumes
• Naturalization Records are filed separately in bound volumes
• Minor records are for those who were under 18 years of age when they arrived in the US.
  • No declaration of intention was required. Witnesses support the facts. Search these records if the other records locate nothing.  Be careful to note from 1885-1906 whether the records are “NR” (naturalization record) or “MR” (minor record), as these have a separate series of volumes.

1906-1930s: Court of Common Pleas

• Declarations of Intention may be filed separately, either loose files or bound volumes
• Naturalization Records are filed separately in bound volumes.  The form is sometimes called “application and certificate of naturalization”.  Attached material may include a certificate of arrival, a declaration of intention, and other documentation.
• Federal courts gradually began to take over the process during this period and many counties do not have naturalizations after 1906.

How to Locate Naturalization Records in Lucas County

For the following years, naturalizations were handled by the following courts:

• 1835-1867: Court of Common Pleas (rolls 1-9)
• 1867-1885: Probate Journals (rolls 247-253)
• 1885-1906: Probate Naturalization/Minor Records (rolls 332-336/rolls 353/357)
• 1907-1923: Court of Common Pleas Petition and Records
• After 1923: District Courts

Additional records:

1880s-1930: Board of Elections

• Index to Naturalization Records, 1835-1923 (#469)
• Certificates of Naturalization—a record for the Board of Elections, listing vital and descriptive information on the person, address, spouse, minor children, and information on location and court where the person was naturalized; organized by ward and precinct (index pOG 4255)
• Ward/precinct books—small handbooks, organized by the precinct and ward of the voter, lists where and when person was naturalized, crossed out and re-entered as the person moved or the boundaries changed.